Sweden Top Portugal To Claim Gold

Farhiya Abdi once more stood out for Sweden and made sure her team brings home the trophy with 21 points and 5 rebounds

Sweden claimed gold at the U20 European Championship Women as they pulled clear in the fourth quarter to beat Portugal 64-55.

Sweden had led since the second quarter but a determined Portugal fought back to trail by just three, 45-42, on a lay-up by Maria Correia with nine minutes left.

The gap was four, 53-49, with six minutes to go, but a three-pointer from Frida Fogdemark pushed Sweden clear.

When Binta Drammeh made a three with 2:36 to go, the gap was 10, 61-51, and there was no way back for Portugal.

Farhiya Abdi led Sweden with 21 points while Fogdemark had 11.

Maria Andrade finished with 15 points for Portugal.

Greece held off a determined rally from the Czech Republic to snatch bronze with a 60-59 win.

Greece had been looking reasonably comfortable with a 58-51 lead with four minutes remaining.

But Lenka Bartakova's three-pointer started a Czech surge that saw the game tied at 59-59 on Alena Hanusova's lay-up with 59 seconds to go.

Anastasia Slouka missed a jump-shot for Greece, but Bartakova likewise came up empty for the Czechs with five seconds left.

Petra Zaplatova fouled Vasiliki Tarla, who made the first free throw before missing the second, but Artemis Spanou got the vital offensive rebound to secure the win - a contributing factor, no doubt, in her being named the tournament MVP.

Spanou led Greece with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Anthoula Chatzigiakoumi had 13 points.Bartakova had 20 points for the Czechs while Hanusova added 18.

Bar Galinski guided Israel to fifth place with another huge performance in81-66 win over Hungary.

Galinski scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as Israel took a big early lead and stayed comfortably in front for the rest of the gane,

Hadar Gutin added 15 points and Shira Shecht had 14 for the victors.

Reka Balint scored 19 points for Hungary.

Belgium took seventh place easily, thrashing Bulgaria 78-37 after using a huge second quarter - in which they outscored Bulgaria 29-6 - to put the result beyond doubt early on.

The Mayombo sisters played a huge role in Belgium's victory as Noemie scored 16 points and Emmanuella added 14.

Tsvetromira Sharenkapova led Bulgaria with 15 points.

Estonia locked up 10th place by keeping hosts FYR of Macedonia winless in the competition with a 73-65 victory.